The Couple

Both Callie Louis and Eric Reinhardt spent their childhoods in Columbus, Ohio, but they weren’t aware of this fact for 14 years, when they finally met in high school. By sophomore year, they were an item. After graduating, the two took a break to attend different universities, only to find their way back into each other’s hearts postcollege.

Living in Chicago, the pair picked up where they left off, and Eric, who works for an investment firm, put a plan in motion to secure their happy ending. The couple headed to Saugatuck, Michigan, for the weekend (a routine excursion) to meet Callie’s sister, brother-in-law, and their newborn baby. The trip turned unexpected when the vacationers headed to the beach at sunset but couldn’t find a relative in sight. What Callie, a product manager for a real-estate website, found instead was a picture-perfect picnic. There, Eric dropped to his knee and popped the question. And as the evening’s final surprise, Callie’s parents and siblings appeared to clink glasses of Champagne and watch the sun set. Eric flew the crew into town just for the occasion.

On September 6, 2014, the high school sweethearts—10 years in the making—threw a rustic destination wedding with 150 guests at Snake River Ranch in Jackson, Wyoming.

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The Stationery

“Jackson has often been referred to as the ‘last of the Old West,’ so we played off that idea,” Callie explains of the inspiration behind the rustic invitation suite printed by xowyo. Stamps and postcards included for R.S.V.P.s depicted the open skies and wilderness that awaited guests. The arbors bordering each invite, which the bride illustrated herself, inspired her father to build a life-size replica for the ceremony.

Serene Setting

The duo booked Snake River Ranch as the venue. “My family has a home in Jackson, and after traveling there together for years, it’s a very special place for both of us,” says Callie. Guests took in scenic views of the Teton Range, which served as a breathtaking backdrop for the day’s festivities. “I wanted to blend in with, not take away from, the beautiful setting,” says Callie.

The Fashions

Callie expected to buy a white gown, but instead fell for a nude design by Vera Wang with lace and petal detailing. She paired the classic silhouette with diamond earrings and a Cartier LOVE bracelet, both gifts from her parents and grandparents. The bride’s mother embroidered the wedding date and logo into the dress as Callie’s “something blue.”

Tears of Joy

The bride’s aunt officiated the nuptials beneath a Western chaparral built by Callie’s father. Hops, from the bride’s grandparents’ garden, helped blend the structure into the ceremony’s scenic backdrop.

Callie’s wedding band, fashioned by a local jeweler, and Eric’s Cartier band were knotted on a leather string and laid atop a dainty pillow sewn by the bride’s mother. The pillow included the newlywed’s monogram and wedding date.

Good Eats

After taking a leisurely creek-side stroll from the ceremony to the reception, partygoers enjoyed bacon-wrapped, chorizo-stuffed dates; elk carpaccio on crostini; ham and sweet potato hush puppies; and oyster bar offerings, all made by Café Genevieve.

The Reception

The reception had a casual air. “A lot of the furniture and all of the lights were from my parents’ house,” says Callie. “My florist called it the ‘sexy man’s den.’” Moody flowers, vintage candles, and assorted deer antlers lay atop faux cowhide to home in the rustic atmosphere.

Earthy Essence

Branded for Life

The couple made a cattle-branding iron, commonly used by ranch hands, which depicted the wedding-day monogram that Callie created. The custom-made décor is now displayed in the couple’s home as a keepsake of their special day.

Special Seating

Child’s Play

As an icebreaker, guests tried their hands at a game of “Stump,” which the couple often played together with friends, including one of Callie’s bridesmaids, as kids. To win the game, players must hit a nail into the stump with the prongs of a hammer.

Picture-Perfect

The couple snuck off during the reception to take in the scene. “We were in awe at how amazing the moment was, watching all of our friends and families back at the tent, who came from all over the country to celebrate us. It was a feeling like no other,” says Callie.

The Cake

Swing Your Partner

Mandatory Air’s contagious energy lifted even the shyest of guests out of their seats and onto the dance floor and stage. Two belts looped together were all that was needed to start a spur-of-the-moment round of limbo. After the celebration, revelers made their way to a nearby saloon.